Aerial Spectral Imagery for Wheat Fertility Assessment

This technical report discusses the use of aerial spectral imagery to determine wheat fertility rates and timing, focusing on the relationship between tiller density and nitrogen (N) application. It outlines the critical role of early leaf and tiller development in wheat yield, emphasizing that insufficient tiller densities at Zadok’s Growth Stage 25 may necessitate nitrogen application. The report introduces the normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) as a spectral index that assesses crop reflectance, providing a model developed from research conducted at Virginia Tech. This model allows for the calculation of tiller density from aerial NDVI data, thus enabling growers to optimize nitrogen application without manual counting of tillers. The report details the necessary technology, including multispectral cameras and drones, and explains how NDVI can be used to create prescription maps for variable rate nitrogen application. It concludes by highlighting the potential for both drone-based and satellite-based NDVI applications in agricultural management.